Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-29
"NuMBER $50
ST Struck Him, Yer Honor; Only Wish L
Might Kilt Him."

Number 25i "
Bring on number %
1.-The Court is waiting for number 25 "
There was little hanging back on the
part of the usually prompt official, but in
moment more tall, fine-looking wom-
an strobe defiantly op, and, placing herself
before the Judge, awaited the usual ques-
tioning.
There was something so piteously des
perate in the prisoners appearance, and
her great hunted eyes had look of such
anguish in their fierce depths, that the
Judge, accustomed to all kinds of sad sights
and sounds, yet hesitated moment before
asking, with unwonted gentleness
What is your name, ray woman, ard
where were you born ~
"Mv name is Aleen Byrne, yer honor,
an were born in Aberdeen, off the Scot
ish coastland."
And you are charged with striking a
MANI"
Il am. yer honor, an ken weel stricht
the mon."
And you meant to-"
II did, indeed, yer honor. l only wish
might kilt himI"
THAT would hardly have been for your
good, Aleen."
Hes kilt me, yer honor"
The woman spoke with low, inpas-
stoned wall, which caused respectful ST.
lence even in the lower Court, where touch
ing tones were often unheeded.
"McGinnis testifes that he never laid a
hand on you" returned the Judge.
He stabbed me to the heart, yer honor,
an the mon kens it well"
stabbed you? Suppose you tell US
about it."
81 will, an me voice will sarve me. Ye
i - 70 axv
one bonnie laddie, an none else We cauld
yer ain. left the guide farther o me lad
a-sleepin' in the kirkyard when l brought
me wee sennie to this land. They say this
be countrie flowin' wi milk an honey,
but oh. yer honor, it flows wi milk an
| honey for some, an for others, | mind me,
! it flows wi a very sea o poison.
For mony year after | reacht these
! shores j toiled in sun an shade, but wha'
greeted messed for a the toll so long as me
| winsome Robbie were thrivin' an gettin' a
muckle o learning fra his books. He
growed so fine an tall that soon he were
| Ia en- to a gentieman's store to help WI the
Grants an to mind the counter betlmes.
There the mon McGinnis set his evil eye
on the lad. l was forced to pass his den on
me way to an fra the bread store, an he
minded twas mcsel hated the uncanny
I look o. the place. An one morn as passet
! by, he said | needn't be so gran ABBOTT me
| b'v, he were no above a'en sup o the
| liquor wi the rest Of an cen. l begged
me childt, for the love of God, to let the
stool alane. Me Robbie dom no i'll, an
promised to bide by me will an wishes,
but the mon McGinnis watcht o. night
| when were cauld an stormln', IN he
give the lad many a cup o his dretful
drinks, to warm him, he would say.
got upon my knees to me ain childt, an
prayed him to pass the place no more, but
| 10 gang hame by some ither road. Then L
| went mysel' to the mon wi'out soul in his
| body, an p'raps ye ken, yer honor, mither
| would beg an pray for the bone o her
| bone an the flesh o. her flesh. But he
| laughet in my face, an ! ruined from his
SIGHT afore | did him i'll. Las night, yer
| honor, the noise at me door frightened me.
ruined wi all me MIGHT to see wha' were
! the trouble, an me Robbie swayed into the
room an fell at me feet-he were dhrunk,
yer honor! Then McGinnis pokes his face
in at me door, an asket, 'Wha think We
now, Mistress ByTne? Did l mean to
strike the mon, yer honor? An could l,
| I'd a-sthruck the breath fra his body
| Ye'd better keep me wi lock an key the
| NIGHT till me gloom dies out; but, o ledge
| ledge, there's naught to kill the gnawin' al
me heart, an wisht meseP an me lad were
| in the llirkyard aside the guide father !"
| The woman at the bar extended &
| clinched hand, as she added with bitter We
| hemence:
"They teled me, an l could prove the
mon sold liquor to the BARN under age
the law could stoop him. It's meser wud
| like to see the law stoop one O. the miser.
able rumsellers O. the land l tell ye
ledge, there's naught but Gods gruesome
vengeance can stoop his ilk and when that
/ falls it'll crush We all It's "a weel enough
to rest the mither as she strikes the mon
as ruins her ain childt, but wait we till the
Lord Almighty strikes-aye, wait We fol
that, an We dare!
AS the threatening voice stilled. the
woman was pronounced discharged, and
after his temperance in Court McGinnis
was lodged in the county Jail on charge
of having willfully sold or.given intox-
icatng drink to minor. His comrades
declared the evidence on which he was
convicted TO have been illegally slight and
uncertain. But the clerk Of the Court was
heard to remark that he believed from bis
soul the Judge was afraid to disregard the
old witeh's warning. and dare not wait Tor
the Lord Almighty to strike back with
| gruesome vengeance mt them all. Then
| the clerk added
But she did have knell of fiery doom,
did that No. % r'-Erchange.